Law: Hopefully this is not the Patriots defense

Law: Hopefully this is not the Patriots defense

Former Patriots great and new Comcast SportsNet football analyst Ty Law hopes the Patriots defense that showed up in Detroit on Saturday won't be the same group that plays in Miami on Monday night of Week 1.

"Hopefully this isn't an indication of where the Patriots defense is right now because they didn't have big Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis or Brandon Spikes," Law said. "With those guys coming back the defense will be rejuvenated. Hopefully this is not the Patriots defense we can look forward to all season."

Law looked at the Lions' defense and saw a group that looked eerily familiar.

"I think Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham called Rex Ryan and said let me borrow your playbook," Law said. "He took a couple pages out of that and said, 'You know what, you wrote the blueprint on how to beat the Patriots, let me do exact what you do.' He passed it on to his team, went out there and pressured Tom Brady. If you can't get the blitz, it's going to be like that week in and week out."

He didn’t land in New England, but he didn’t too badly, winding up with the usually competitive Ravens.

On a Thursday conference call with New England media, Weddle confirmed that there was mutual interest expressed.

“Obviously, I was interested,” he acknowledged. “I have nothing but high regard, respect and admiration – and envy, quite honestly – of the success of the New England Patriots over the years. Obviously, battling them in my career, it’s always been a great game. I love the way they play, love the foundation, love everything about it. It was definitely on my radar. There were talks both ways, it just didn’t end up [working out].”

The numbers massed at the position with Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon played a role in the two sides not being able to reach accord, according to Weddle.

“I’m good buddies with Patrick Chung,” he said. “I grew up playing with him and Devin [McCourty] is one of the best to play, so I don’t know if it would have worked out personnel-wise. But obviously, I could have seen myself fitting in there seamlessly.”

Weddle’s New England attraction apparently wasn’t love that bloomed late in his career. Toward the end of his conference call, Weddle said, “I’m still wondering why they just didn’t draft me in ’07; I could have been still playing there now.”

As reporters puzzled for a moment trying to recall the 2007 first-rounder, Weddle chipped in with the answer: “[They took] Brandon Meriweather.”

More importantly around here, the Patriots now are in position to win out and claim the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

Prior to the Raiders loss, Oakland would have been the top seed if both they and the Patriots won out. Now, the 10-2 Patriots have a leg up on the rest of the conference. The Raiders’ road stays tough. They are at San Diego and Denver and host the Colts.

The Chiefs have a more favorable close to the season with home games against Tennessee and Denver before their season finale at San Diego.

The Patriots’ road over the final four is no picnic though, beginning with the Ravens and at Denver before the last two hosting the Jets and traveling to Miami.